The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is expected to handover security to its Liberian counterparts in Foya District, Lofa County on Thursday, 29 November. Both Bangladeshi and Pakistani contingents of UNMIL are in charge of the security of Foya and Voinjama respectively in Lofa County.

This comes in the aftermath of an assessment trip made last Wednesday to the county by authorities of UNMIL, Liberia National Police, as well as Bureau of Immigration, DEA, among others.

The team toured and assessed the operations and coordination of the various security units (Police, Immigration, DEA, NSA, etc), as well as their relationship with the civilians, and monitoring of entry and exit of traders (and travelers) into country through Foya, a border town. The issue of the rule of law (justice), abused by various administrations, cumulating into the conflict, was also taken into consideration during the tour.

Last month (October), UNMIL officially handed the security of Grand Cape Mount County in the western region to Liberians in Robertsport during an elaborate ceremony. Immediately, thereafter, there was a huge deployment of Police, Immigration and DEA officers in the area despite their previous low key presence in there.

The Mission, since arrival here during the heat of the conflict in August 2003 as Vanguard Force, but re-capped into UNMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) on 4 October of the same year, has been in control of security of the country.

A few months ago, the Mission announced its draw-down plan which is gradually ongoing as it pulls from various counties in the country where it has been deployed. Though the security situation is still fragile, there has some improvement to some extent.